Toxic Work Environments: Causes and Fixes

"I could practically hear everyone’s chairs scraping back as I was shouted at in the meeting…," my guest, Claire Collins, recounted during our conversation. In the 47th episode of Why Care?, I had the pleasure of speaking with Claire: a coach, Henley Business School Professor of Leadership, and my former MBA dissertation supervisor! In the episode, we delve into an issue that affects a staggering 49% of employees: toxic work environments. We explore how to identify toxic behaviours, the effects of gaslighting, and strategies for building resilience, alongside a shocking personal anecdote from Claire on her experience with workplace bullying.

Let's explore the topic from a different angle: how environments can become toxic, and what steps we can take to remedy them.

What characterises a toxic work environment?

A toxic workplace is marked by a lack of psychological safety where individuals may feel excluded, disregarded, targeted, or undervalued by peers or management, whether intentional or not. These environments are defined by hostility, fear, and disengagement, impacting both individual wellbeing and overall organisational performance. British culture, which sometimes favours non-confrontation, can contribute to issues being brushed under the carpet.

The first step to addressing toxicity in the workplace is identifying its causes.

What causes toxic work environments?

One prevalent cause is harmful leadership behaviours. This can manifest in many ways including as resistance to feedback, micromanagement, poor communication, or a lack of clear guidance. Often, these patterns develop unintentionally but can become habits over time. As leaders, we must reassess our approach regularly, stay open to recognising our own errors, and ensure a tailored approach when dealing with team members. Leadership is a muscle that needs to be consistently trained.

Beyond this, company culture should not be allowed to develop passively; it needs deliberate cultivation to reflect the organisation’s core values. For instance, if a company promotes collaboration but only rewards individual achievements and competition, this inconsistency can breed a toxic environment. Leaders should ensure they are fostering nurturing and uplifting spaces for their teams. For more on brand values read The Brand Behind the Mask.

What can be done to tackle a toxic workplace?

The foundation for addressing toxicity is effective communication. This means operating from the understanding that communication styles vary, and being willing to listen actively and empathetically. Alongside this, it’s essential to create an environment where individuals feel safe to candidly express their thoughts and concerns.

Senior leadership behaviour is the foundation of the company culture. Organisations should embed a code of conduct that addresses even subtle forms of toxic behaviour, such as passive-aggressive communication. But, we know that policies don’t count for much if leadership is saying and doing something different. We have worked with global leaders to offer an understanding of what these subtle forms might look like - knowledge is key, alongside skill to address it. The executive team, in particular, should have a close eye on employee engagement survey results and HR bullying and harassment cases. Any red flags warrants their immediate action to address it as it signals bullying behaviour is not welcome and that staff will be supported should they report it. There are no quick fixes to toxic workplaces, but this is a start.

How can Avenir help?

At Avenir, we offer an Inclusive Leadership Programme, which provides you with the support and guidance you need to foster constructive, healthy work environments and work dynamics, whatever your specific needs may be.

My new book, Beyond Discomfort: Why inclusive leadership is so hard (and what you can do about it) is also a valuable tool for learning how to harness discomfort as a catalyst for positive change and greater returns. You can get your hands on a copy of the book here. It is also available as an audiobook to listen to on the go.

Claire’s fantastic coaching services can be accessed here. She works with individuals to help them rebuild their career confidence, and to develop strategies on managing bullying or gaslighting in the workplace.